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Falstaff Magazi95 points
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Robert Parker's94 points
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James Suckling94 points
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Decanter94 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2014
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Champagne 2014"With a history of more than 250 years, Delamotte is the 5th oldest champagne ..."$224.99 -
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James Suckling93 points
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Jamie Goode92 points
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Wine Enthusiast93 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Champagne NV""Delamotte has always been somewhat of an insider’s house, producing high qua..."$129.00 -
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Jeb Dunnuck94 points
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James Suckling93 points
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Robert Parker's93 points
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Vinous92 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2007
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 14.0% Alcohol
Champagne Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2007"This 2007 vintage Blanc de Blancs' reveals in its appearance alone, the house..."$149.99 -
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- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2007
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 14.0% Alcohol
Champagne Delamotte Brut Vintage 2007"From Cramant to Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, through Avize and Oger : all are found in..."$74.99 -
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2008
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Champagne 2008"With a history of more than 250 years, Delamotte is the 5th oldest champagne ..."$185.00 -
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The Wine Advoca94+ points
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Antonio Galloni94 points
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James Suckling93 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2012
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Champagne 2012"With a history of more than 250 years, Delamotte is the 5th oldest champagne ..."$179.00 -
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Huon Hooke92 points
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James Suckling91 points
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Wine Spectator91 points
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage NV
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Delamotte Brut Nv Champagne"Simply one of the best NV Champagnes around, made by the famous Champagne Salon."$79.99 -
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- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage NV
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Delamotte Brut Nv Magnum Champagne"Hand made wine from the owners of the incredible 'Salon' Champagne - A blend ..."$199.99 -
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Robert Parker's89 points
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage NV
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Delamotte Rose Nv Champagne"80% Pinot, 20% Chardonnay, with the Pinot component made in the saignee metho..."$144.99 -
Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wine, is a type of wine that contains bubbles of carbon dioxide. The bubbles are created by a secondary fermentation process that occurs inside the bottle, which gives sparkling wine its characteristic effervescence. There are several different types of sparkling wine, including:
- Champagne: Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the Champagne region of France using specific grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier) and winemaking methods. Champagne is known for its complexity and elegance, and it is often considered a luxury product. Click here if you wish to read more about what makes Champagne so special.
- Prosecco: Prosecco is a sparkling wine that is produced in the Veneto region of Italy, it is made from Glera grape variety. Prosecco is known for its fruity and floral aromas, and it is often considered a more affordable alternative to Champagne.
- Cava: Cava is a sparkling wine that is produced in Spain, it is made from the grape varieties Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada. Cava is known for its dryness and minerality, and it is often considered a good value alternative to Champagne.
Sparkling wine can also be made in other regions, such as England, Australia, and New Zealand. These sparkling wines are known for their fruit-forward flavors and have a wide range of styles, some are made using traditional method similar to Champagne, while others are made using the charmat method, where the secondary fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks.
Sparkling wines can vary in sweetness and dryness, the most common terms used are Brut, Extra Brut, Sec, Demi-Sec and Doux, which indicate the sweetness level. Brut is the driest, Extra Brut is the driest of all, Sec is a medium sweet, Demi-Sec is quite sweet and Doux is the sweetest.
Sparkling wine is created by:
- Grapes: Sparkling wine is typically made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes for Champagne, Glera for Prosecco and Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada for Cava.
First Fermentation: The grapes are harvested and then pressed to extract the juice. The juice is then fermented in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels, depending on the winemaker's preference. This process converts the sugar in the grapes into alcohol and carbon dioxide. - Secondary Fermentation: The wine is then bottled and a small amount of sugar and yeast is added, this is called the liqueur de tirage. The bottle is then sealed and stored in a cool and dark place, where the secondary fermentation takes place. This process is called the traditional method or Méthode Champenoise. The yeast consumes the added sugar and produces carbon dioxide, which dissolves into the wine, creating the bubbles.
- Aging: The wine is then aged for a period of time, usually several months to several years, depending on the style of sparkling wine. During this time, the yeast cells and sediment settle to the bottom of the bottle, and the wine takes on a more complex flavor and aroma.
- Riddling: The bottles are then placed in a special rack called a pupitre, where they are slowly turned and tilted over a period of several weeks. This process, called riddling, causes the sediment to collect in the neck of the bottle.
- Disgorging: The neck of the bottle is then frozen, and the frozen sediment (called the "lees") is removed by a process called disgorging. The bottle is then topped up with a small amount of wine and sugar, called the dosage, which determines the final sweetness level of the sparkling wine.
- Corking and Labeling: The bottle is then corked and labeled, and it is ready to be sold and enjoyed.
It's important to note that there is another method of making sparkling wine, it is called Charmat method, the secondary fermentation process occurs in a large stainless steel tank rather than in the individual bottles, after this process the wine is then bottled and ready for consumption, this method is faster and less expensive than the traditional method but it can produce less complex wines.
Sparkling wines are typically enjoyed as aperitif, or during special occasions such as weddings, New Year's Eve, and other celebrations. They can also be paired with a variety of foods, including seafood, fruit, and desserts.